Texas has lion’s share of U.S. oil rigs, according to Baker Hughes count

The two largest concentrations of oil and gas rigs last week were in Texas basins, according to the most recent count from oilfield services giant Baker Hughes.

West Texas’ Permian Basin boasted 483 of the total, up two from a week prior. South Texas’ Eagle Ford has 216, also up two from the previous week. North Dakota’s Williston Basin had the third-highest quantity of rigs with 177, though its total was down by two.

Overall, the number of oil and gas rigs operating in the United States last week dropped by 14 to 1,771, according to Baker Hughes figures.

Not surprisingly, Texas had the largest collection of working rigs overall with 845, which was up by three. The next highest concentration was in Oklahoma, which had 185 rigs in operation.

Of the U.S. total, 1416 rigs were drilling for oil while just 351 were drilling for gas. Depressed natural gas prices have led many energy companies to concentrate on higher-margin projects in oil-rich plays such as the Permian and Eagle Ford.